Robinson takes charge for UConn

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT)

Published 7:00 pm, Thursday, November 8, 2007

In his second effort of the season, however, Robinson probably earned a month's worth of playing time.

His offense wasn't exactly dominant -- Robinson missed several shots around the basket -- but Robinson's overall aggressive play helped him finish with 10 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks Thursday night. The latter two marks were career highs.

Robinson's improved effort, as well as A.J. Price's career-high 24 points, helped UConn beat Buffalo 82-57 in a second-round game of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic.

The Huskies (2-0) advanced to the event's semifinal round and will face upstart Gardner-Webb at Madison Square Garden Nov. 15. Buffalo (1-1) was trying to make the Big Apple play host to two relative unknowns next week, but could not pull off an upset the caliber of the one the Runnin' Bulldogs staged Wednesday at Rupp Arena.

Price, who hit 10-of-12 attempts from the free throw line, also had three assists, three steals and three rebounds. Jerome Dyson chipped in 12 points and Jeff Adrien 11 for the victors.

Buffalo's Greg Gamble, who had 25 points Wednesday against Ohio Valley, led the Bulls with 13 Thursday.

After holding on to beat Morgan State by four in their opener Wednesday, the Huskies' were able to put Buffalo away much quicker.

Robinson provided the exclamation point for UConn's victory, slamming home a miss by Jerome Dyson with 10:24 to play in the game. The dunk gave the Huskies a commanding 62-41 lead. It also drew a questionable technical foul call when Robinson briefly hung on the rim, but the celebration in Storrs had already begun.

Robinson fouled out on a charge with 1:08 left in the game with the Huskies up by 24.

As is its custom, UConn misfired on six of its first nine free throws and got off to a relatively slow start.

In what is quickly becoming a pattern this young season, Dyson again picked up two quick fouls. The sophomore star disagreed with both calls, of course, including the charge into Buffalo's Brian Addison at the 8:37 mark that gave Dyson his second.

The Bulls had been staying close and immediately following Dyson's exit Rodney Pierce hit a jumper to give Buffalo a 24-19 lead. From that point, however, the Huskies took command with a surprising display of outside shooting -- without Dyson -- that led to a 17-0 run.

Price was just trying to beat the shot clock when he tossed in a 22-footer that tied the score at 24. Doug Wiggins was key during the stretch, too, knocking down a pair of jumpers including a 3-pointer in transition that made it 32-24 Huskies. Another triple by Price capped the spurt and gave UConn a 36-24 advantage with 4:04 left in the half.

While they were starting to pull away the Huskies held Buffalo without a point for five minutes and 24 seconds.

UConn went into halftime with a 43-30 lead. Price had already scored 11 points by the break, and Robinson was filling the stat sheet with six points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

Jeff Adrien made his contributions to the Huskies in an unusual way.

He had 11 points and eight rebounds, but the burly UConn power forward also assisted on each of the Huskies first three baskets and finished with five, tying his career high. It was only the second time in 65 career games that Adrien recorded more than three assists in a game.

Buffalo's last win over a Big East team came when it beat Rutgers 62-53 on Dec. 10, 2005.

REPORT CARD

PLAY OF THE GAME: Stanley Robinson's tip-dunk that followed Jerome Dyson's steal and fastbreak layup attempt. The shot brought the house down, but also drew a technical foul on Robinson for hanging on the rim.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Robinson. The sophomore forward scored the Huskies' first basket of the game and was active at both ends of the floor all night.

NOT IN THE BOX SCORE: A number of students chanted "Kem-ba Walk-er" during a break in the action, praising an interested visitor sitting behind the UConn bench. Walker is a point guard from Rice High in New York who has committed to join the UConn program next season.